I got so bored doing this county that I actually went back to make sure there was a fun fact about each town.
Amesbury
Pronunciation: Ames-buh-ry
Population in 2020: 17,366
Incorporated: 1668 (as town) 1996 (as city)
Original name: Unknown
Amesbury began as part of Salisbury, which was named for Salisbury, England. When the new town split off it took the name of the town next to the English Salisbury, which was Amesbury. The original Amesbury is the town nearest to Stonehenge. Here is an account of the name.
Here’s something fun: Amesbury was once known as “the carriage town” because it was a hub of the carriage industry. I think it was like the Detroit of carriages.
Andover
Pronunciation: Ann-dover
Population in 2020: 36,569
Incorporated: 1646
Original name: Cochickawick
Named for Andover, England. The origins of the name are uncertain.
Ok, this isn’t necessarily a fun fact, per se, but it’s very interesting: during the 1692 witch hysteria more citizens from Andover were accused than any other town.
Beverly
Pronunciation: Bev-er-lee
Population in 2020: 42,670
Incorporated: 1668 (as a town) 1864 (as a city)
Original name: Naumkeag
Beverly was named for the town of the same name in Yorkshire, England, which was founded by a Saint. No, really.
If that weren’t fun enough, here’s something: Beverly Hills, CA was named after Beverly, MA by a man named Burton E. Green.
Take that to trivia night
Boxford
Pronunciation: Box-ford
Population in 2020: 8,203
Incorporated: 1685
Original name: Unknown
During the 70s, some Boxford residents traveled to England to determine which Boxford was the inspiration for their town’s name. They decided on this one, in Suffolk. (I don’t know what the criteria was.) The meaning of Boxford, according to the Key to English Placenames, is ‘Box-tree slope’.
Boxford, MA was the birthplace of Rufus Porter, a painter and inventor (the revolving rifle and sold it to Samuel Colt. He even has a museum.
Danvers
Pronunciation: DAN-vers
Population in 2020: 28,087
Incorporated: 1757
Original name: Wahquamesehcok (birchwood)
Nobody really knows, but there’s speculation that the name was inspired by an important personage. You should really read that whole article because the creation of the town is like something out of an epic novel.
Danvers was the epicenter of the 1692 witch hysteria and today there is a memorial to the innocent people put to death.
Again, not so fun, sorry.
Essex
Pronunciation: ESS-ex
Population in 2020: 3,675
Incorporated: 1819
Original name: Agawam?
Essex was part of Ipswich originally and was called Chebacco Parish. Why they chose Essex is unclear, though it is likely inspired by the Essex in England.
Essex once had a local character named America Burnham. Go read that. You’ll thank me.
Georgetown
Pronunciation: Jorgetown
Population in 2020: 8,470
Incorporated: 1838
Original name: Unclear
Georgetown was once a part of Rowley, a town I had no idea existed until 5 seconds ago. One source says it is named after George Washington but also says that Washington was President in 1838, which is quite a feat as he died in 1799. It’s more likely that the inspiration for the name was George Peabody, a philanthropist with a particular interest in the town.
Let’s see if I have this right – Georgetown and Rowley are locked in an ages-old fight over which town has the real “Old Nancy” which is a Revolutionary War cannon. It sounds pretty contentious!
Gloucester
Pronunciation: Gloss-ter, Gloss-tah
Population in 2020: 29,729
Incorporated: 1642 (town), 1843 (city)
Original name: Wingawecheek?
Named after Gloucester, England, from whence many settlers came. More about the name here.
Gloucester, MA has a castle. Wow!
Groveland
Pronunciation: Grove-Land
Population in 2020: 6,752
Incorporated: 1850
Original name: Same as Rowley
Groveland was part of Bradford, which had been a part of Rowley and was annexed by Haverhill. As for the name, maybe there were some groves there?
Groveland, despite its small size, sent 185 men to serve in the Civil War.
Look, I’m trying, ok?
Hamilton
Pronunciation: Ham-ill-ton
Population in 2020: 7,561
Incorporated: 1793
Original name: Agawam
Hamilton was originally part of Ipswich. When it separated the new residents chose to honor Alexander Hamilton. It is one of 5 municipalities in the US to do so.
Hamilton is home to the Patton Homestead, the former home of General George S. Patton Jr. and his son Major General George S. Patton IV.
Ipswich
Pronunciation: Ips-which
Population in 2020: 13,785
Incorporated: 1634
Original name: Agawam
Named for Ipswich, England, which takes its name from Gippeswyc.
Ipswich has its own kind of clam, mya arnaria, or soft shell clam. Why not peruse this vintage booklet about them?
Lawrence
Pronunciation: Law-rense
Population in 2020: 89,143
Incorporated: 1847 (town), 1853 (city)
Original name: Cochichawick
Named for Abbot Lawrence, “the most important man in Boston” who developed the cities of Lowell and Lawrence with his brother Amos.
Lawrence got itself a big old dam, the Great Stone Dam. Go watch this virtual tour.
Lynn
Pronunciation: Lin
Population in 2020: 101,253
Incorporated: 1629 (town) 1850 (city)
Original name: Saugus
Lynn is presumably named for King’s Lynn, England, although the Encyclopedia Britannica claims it was named for Lynn Regis…oh wait, Regis means king. I get it. King’s Lynn changed its name from Bishop’s Lynn after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The name was chosen to honor Rev. Samuel Whiting, the first minister sent to the town.
Is there pirate treasure buried in Lynn? Maybe!
Lynnfield
Pronunciation: Lin-feeld
Population in 2020: 13,000
Incorporated: 1814
Original name: Saugus
This town was part of Lynn until 1782.
David Hewes was born and raised in Lynnfield, but made his fortune in California. Hewes was responsible for the ceremonial “golden spike” used at the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Manchester-by-the Sea
Pronunciation: Like you’d expect
Population in 2020: 5,395
Incorporated: 1645
Original name: Agawam?
Originally part of Salem, the town was established as just plain Manchester. This book offers two explanations: the settlers were from Manchester, England or the town was named for the Earl of Manchester. At any rate, in the 1800s, people, like James T. Fields and his wife Annie Adams Field began calling it “Manchester-by-the-Sea” to differentiate it from Manchester, NH. This name change was made official in 1989.
One of the town’s beaches is called “Singing Beach” because of the sound the sand makes when walked on dry.
Marblehead
Pronunciation: Mar-bull-hed or Mah-bull-hed
Population in 2020: 20,441
Incorporated: 1649
Original name: Massebequash
It’s tough to pin down exactly, but the main story I can find is that the settlers (who broke off from Salem) mistook the granite cliffs for marble. Sounds good to me.
Marblehead is locked in a fierce battle with Beverly over which town should be called “The birthplace of the US Navy.”
Merrimac
Pronunciation: Merry-mac
Population in 2020: 6,723
Incorporated: 1876
Original name: Unclear
Formerly part of Amesbury, Merrimac sits on the banks of the Merrimack River. The name, no matter how you spell it, means either “the place of strong current” or “a sturgeon” in Abenaki. Maybe.
The most fun fact I can come up with is that Google confuses this town with Merrimack, NH and I got all kinds of turned around.
Methuen
Pronunciation: Meh-thoo-in
Population in 2020: 53,059
Incorporated: 1725 (town), 1917 (city)
Original name: unknown
When Methuen split off from Haverhill, Governor Drummond named it after his friend Sir Paul Methuen, a British diplomat.
Middleton
Pronunciation: Middle-tun
Population in 2020: 9,779
Incorporated: 1728
Original name: unknown
Assembled like some sort of eldritch horror from bits and pieces of other towns, Middleton is so-called because it sits in the middle between Salem and Andover.
Not to be confused with MiddleTOWN, either in RI or CT.
There is an award-winning dairy in town. Which awards, I cannot say, but I’d love a root beer float right now, so I’m highlighting them.
Nahant
Pronunciation: Nah-haunt
Population in 2020: 3,334
Incorporated: 1850
Original name: Nahanten
Nahanten means “the point” or “almost an island” which describes the geographical situation well.
Not only is Nahant the smallest municipality in the Commonwealth, it is (possibly) the site of the first game of tennis in the US!
Newbury
Pronunciation: New-buhrry
Population in 2020: 6,716
Incorporated: 1635
Original name: Quascacunquen?
Named for Newbury, England, which has a mysterious castle that this author claims to have located with the help of a psychic. I don’t know if the facts get any more fun than that.
A little closer to home, Newbury is home to the infamous Pink House, which has a wild ride of a history.
Newburyport
Pronunciation: New-buhrry Port
Population in 2020: 18,289
Incorporated: 1754 (town) 1851 (city)
Original name: Quascacunquen?
Newburyport split off from Newbury and grew and grew and grew.
They claim to have had the first “Tea Party” a few days before Boston, but that may not be true.
North Andover
Pronunciation: New-buhrry Port
Population in 2020: 30,915
Incorporated: 1646
Original name: Cochichawick
Split from Andover. Easy peasey.
Anne Bradstreet, the first published poet in America, wrote most of her poems while living in what is now North Andover.
Peabody
Pronunciation: Pee b’dee
Population in 2020: 54,481
Incorporated: 1646
Original name:
Peabody has had many identities over the years. First it was part of Salem, then Danvers, then it became North Danvers and finally renamed itself in honor of George Peabody, whose name you have certainly heard attached to the many, many things he financially supported.
I wonder if he pronounced his name Pee-body or Pee b’dee.
At any rate, the town was home to what may have been the first glass manufacturing business in America.
Rockport
Pronunciation: That’s an easy one
Population in 2020: 6,992
Incorporated: 1840
Original name: Agawam
Rock quarries + ports = Rockport?
That was a gimme, so let me add this: there’s a part of Rockport called Bearskin Neck and this site has done all the work for me.
Rowley
Pronunciation: Rah-lee
Population in 2020: 6,161
Incorporated: 1639
Original name: Agawam
Rowley was settled by a group led by Ezekiel Rogers, who had been the minister in Rowley, Yorkshire, which has become something of a ghost town.
Here is a rousing tale of 2 lost clammers from Rowley.
Salem
Pronunciation: Say-lem
Population in 2020: 44,480
Incorporated: 1629 (town) 1836 (city)
Original name: Naumkeag
In order to recognize the peaceful transfer of power from the original leader of the settlement to a new leader chosen by the Masschusetts Bay Colony the settlement was named for Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace. Or, it was named for Jerusalem, meaning city of peace. Either way, the city is best known for the witch trials and executions that occurred in 1692-93. Modern-day Salem has leaned into this in a big way, which, I have to admit, I find rather distasteful. The people executed there probably wouldn’t find the ever present images of broom riding witches to be much fun. But I’m kind of a crank.
Ok, moving on. You probably know that Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in the House of the Seven Gables, but did you know that he was engaged in a brief yet passionate friendship with Herman Melville?
Salisbury
Pronunciation: Salz-burry
Population in 2020: 9,236
Incorporated: 1639
Original name: unknown
Some of the settlers were from Salisbury, England.
Fun fact: did you know that if you get married on the state beach in Salisbury you can set up your wedding all nice-nice but you can’t prevent beachgoers from wandering by and taking pictures? You may even find your guests distracted by the scent of barbeque chicken wafting on the sea breeze from a man with a grill nearby. Very nearby.
Saugus
Pronunciation: Saw-gus
Population in 2020: 28,619
Incorporated: 1815
Original name: unclear
Saugus is a Pawtucket word meaning “outlet” or “extended” and refers to the Saugus River.
The sports teams’ mascot is the Saugus Sachem, which has caused controversy. As of 2023, 23 schools in Massachusetts had Native American mascots.
Swampscott
Pronunciation: Swamp-scot? Swamp-skit? Swamp-scawt? Swamp-scutt?
Population in 2020: 15,111
Incorporated: 1852
Original name: M’squompskut “place of red rocks”
An anglicization of the original native name.
Swampscott is the namesake of the Swampscott Dory, a small fishing boat that is in use all over the world.
Topsfield
Pronunciation: Tops-feeld
Population in 2020: 6,569
Incorporated: 1650
Original name: Shenewemedy
The Topsfield Fair is the oldest agricultural fair in America! And yes, they have deep fried Oreos!
Wenham
Pronunciation: When-um
Population in 2020: 1643
Incorporated: 1650
Original name: See Salem
Wenham was originally called Enon: “”Because there was much water there” (St. John III, 23).” (from the delightful Historical Marker Database.) The name was changed to Wenham, perhaps as a nod to the Wenham in Suffolk, England.
Helen Clay Frick established a summer vacation home for female mill workers in Wenham.
West Newbury
Pronunciation: West New-burry
Population in 2020: 4,500
Incorporated: 1819
Original name: See Newbury
When the inhabitants petitioned to break off from Newbury (which had already lost Newburyport) they called the town “Parsons” but the Legislature incorporated it as West Newbury instead. One rather gets the sense that the Legislature was a stodgy bunch, not particularly prone to whimsy.
3 of the 5 things to see in town according to TripAdvisor are churches. You could go see them, or you could read more about Julian Steele, social worker, activist, politician and all around pioneer.
And that’s Essex County!
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